title: Smoking behavior and sociodemographic differences among young people: further evidence from southern Sweden based on public health survey data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tobacco-smoking behaviours of young people between the age of 18 and 25 years are less understood than those of middle-aged people. The aim of this study is to contribute to improved knowledge of some of the factors that are associated with smoking and cessation among young people.
  
  
  METHODS
  We use the most recently available public health survey data from the southern region of Skåne in Sweden to analyze these factors. The survey is a cross-sectional study with a total sample size of 28,198 individuals with 2801 in the age category of interest. We apply statistical measures of association between smoking and gender and also model the relationship between smoking and smoking cessation and the role of a set of sociodemographic determinants by means of logistic regression to estimate odds ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings include significant differences between the younger age group and the older group with respect to the odds of smoking and method of cessation. We also find differences between young women and men with regard to smoking prevalence, intensity and cessation methods. In particular, young women attempt to quit smoking by means of unassisted methods to a significantly higher extent than do young men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are significant differences between young people and older individuals with respect to a range of smoking behaviours. There are also strong gender effects within the group of young people. Policy development and anti-smoking interventions need to take such differences into consideration for improved effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ekman
authors.forename: Jade
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khalife
authors.forename: Kontie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emmelin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cessation; Sweden; public health; smoking; young people